Attorneys General across the country will join a group of federal, state, and local government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations to recognize the 12th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) held March 7 - 13. This coordinated education campaign encourages individuals across the country to be empowered as consumers.

This year�s theme is �Dollars and Sense: Rated �A� for All Ages,� which highlights consumer education for every stage of life � from grade school to retirement. This message demonstrates that regardless of your age or financial situation, there are useful lessons to learn about making wise financial decisions.

This year, NCPW organizations are reaching out to kids, focusing on Web sites, videos and games designed for a younger audience. Kids younger than 12 spend billions of dollars on goods and services each year, so it makes sense to provide them with these valuable tools. It�s essential that kids understand key consumer and business concepts, like credit and identity theft, banking and fraud, and marketing and advertising.

In addition, for the first time, the NCPW Web site features a blog, where visitors can discover new consumer resources in an informal and interactive environment. Here, visitors have the opportunity to connect directly with representatives of public and private consumer protection organizations.

National organizers of this year�s NCPW include AARP, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Consumer Federation of America, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Federal Citizen�s Information Center, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the National Consumers League, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Postal Service.